The winningest coach in Old Dominion University soccer history and the NCAA's 13th winningest active coach by percentage (.689), Alan Dawson is a four-time Coach of the Year who has guided the Monarchs for 18 seasons producing nine All-Americans, four MLS players and led ODU to NCAA Tournaments in five straight and 11 of the lasts 13 years (This includes two top 16 seeds).

His 2014 Monarchs captured the school's first ever Conference USA Championship, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His Monarchs played one of the nation's toughest schedules and finished with an NCAA RPI of 20. Dawson won his 200th career game at ODU when the Monarchs defeated when the Monarchs defeated William and Mary in October.

His 2013 Monarchs finished second in the always strong Conference USA and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Monarchs lost only one game on the road (at sixth seed Georgetown in the NCAA's ) and tied nationally ranked Maryland.

In 2006 and 2007, ODU advanced to the third round. In 2012, the Monarchs were 11-3-3 and ranked as high as fourth nationally by Soccer America and College Soccer News on Sept. 18th after defeating then second-ranked Creighton.

Dawson won his 300th collegiate game on Nov. 11th, 2011 in the CAA semi-finals against Georgia State. Those Monarchs (12-6-2) ranked as high at seventh nationally and finished the regular season second in the CAA and CAA Tournament runners-up. The Monarchs RPI coming into the NCAA College Cup was 16. The Monarch ranked second nationally in goals scored with 48 for a 2.4 per game average.

A total of four former Monarchs have played in the MLS: Carlos Mendes (NY/NJ Red Bull), Nane Joseph (Colorado Rapids), Evan Newton (Houston Dynamos/San Jose Earthquakes) and David Horst (Portland Timbers ). In 2007 two-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year David Horst became the first Monarch ever selected in the first round of the MLS Super Draft, while in 2009 Joseph was taken in the fourth round of the MLS Super draft. Both Joseph and Mendes currently play for the NASL New York Cosmos.

In 2010, the 10-7-2 Monarchs defeated then second ranked North Carolina in a regular season match at the ODU Soccer Complex. ODU recieved an at-large spot in the NCAA College Cup and promptly knocked off defending National Champion Virginia in the first round.

In 2009, the Monarchs compiled an 11-5-2 record as senior Nane Joseph earned NSCAA second team All-American honors and was selected in the fourth round of the MLS Super Draft by Toronto. Steffen Rabben was named ODU Scholar Athlete of the Year with the prestigious Wilkins/Howard award.

In 2008, ODU tied for second in the CAA and newcomer Steffen Rabben became the fourth Monarch under Dawson to earn CAA Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2007, the Monarchs captured the Colonial Athletic Championship and advanced to the round of 16 after beating Providence and sixth ranked Brown. David Horst earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight year and became the first Monarch ever selected in the first round of the MLS Super draft.

In 2006, ODU compiled a 14-6-2 record and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA College Cup, knocking off Winthrop, and tenth ranked North Carolina before losing a 2-1 decision to eventual national champion UC Santa Barbara. ODU also ranked among the nation's top 20 in attendance.

In 2005, the Monarchs rolled to a 15-4-2 record, reaching the CAA championship match for the second straight year and earning a number ten seed in the NCAA College Cup. During the season ODU knocked off nationally ranked Virginia, Davidson, and N.C. State. As the regular season champion, ODU hosted the CAA tournament. Dawson was named CAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time and the Virginia Coach of the Year by VaSID for the second time.

In 2004, the Monarchs were 13-6-2 and reached the championship match of the Colonial Athletic Association. For the first time in school history ODU was awarded a number 12 seed and a first round bye of the NCAA Tournament. The soccer Monarchs defeated North Carolina, Rutgers and handed CAA rival James Madison it's first loss of the year.

In 2003, the Monarchs reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Old Dominion defeated N.C. State 6-3 at home in the first round before falling to #2 seed Maryland 2-1 on the road in the second round. The Monarchs were ranked as high as #2 during a season that saw ODU race to a 14-0-0 start and become the last Division I team to lose a game. The Monarchs started the season with a nine game shutout streak before VCU found the net in the 10th game. The Monarchs' 15-4-1 record marks the fourth season since 1999 in which Dawson has led his team to double-digit wins. For his efforts, Dawson received his third CAA Coach of the Year award and was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) South-Atlantic Coach of the Year.

In 2001, the Monarchs finished 10-6-2 as CAA semifinalists and captured a slew of post-season awards, including Dawson's second CAA Coach of the Year honor.

In 1999, the men's team finished 15-4-0, winning the CAA regular season title and earning him CAA Coach of the Year honors and the Virginia Sports Information Directors' Coach of the Year Award.

Dawson, a former assistant coach at the University of North Carolina (1996) and a two-time NCAA Division III South Region Coach of the Year at Methodist, has always been known as a winner. In 1995, he led Methodist to the NCAA Division III Championship game. While at Methodist, he guided the school to seven consecutive conference championships and six straight NCAA tournament appearances in only nine seasons.

He was inducted into the Methodist College Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. His combined career record at Methodist was 129-30-1 and his squads finished in the top 10 of the ISAA national polls for seven consecutive seasons. The 1995 team was ranked number one nationally all eight weeks of the regular season as it advanced to the 1995 championship game. He also guided Methodist squads to the round of 16 in 1990 and 1991 and into the quarterfinals in 1992. Dawson accumulated several coaching awards during his stay at Methodist. He garnered Dixie Conference Coach of the Year honors five times and South Region Coach of the Year honors in 1990 and 1995. He produced 32 All-South selections, seven All-Americans, and two Academic All-Americans during his tenure at the school. Dawson also coached three teams to undefeated seasons: in 1991 (15-0-3), 1992 (14-0-2) and 1993 (17-0-0).

Dawson served as head coach of the North Carolina Olympic Development team from 1989-94, winning the USSF Region III championship game in 1993. He was a USSF South Region (III) staff member from 1992 to 1996, and served as the 1979 Region III head coach. From 1988-91, Dawson served as a member of the NCAA Division III South Region selection committee and is currently a member of the Adidas Scholar-Athlete All-American Committee. He has also served as Chairman of the Intercollegiate Soccer Association South Region rating committee.

Dawson is a member of the NCAA Regional Selection Committee for the South-Atlantic Region. Before coaching at Methodist, he served as a graduate assistant coach at UNC-Greensboro from 1984-86. UNCG reached the NCAA Division III quarterfinals in 1984 and won the championship in 1985. He also led the Virginia ODP team to back-to-back regional championships as the head coach in 1999 and 2000.

Dawson holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) `B' license, and a Full Irish Badge (Grade One) coaching license.

Dawson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Lock Haven University in 1984, and a Master of Science degree in physical education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1986. He and his wife Mari have three children, Alec, Garrick , and Ellesse. Alan is the son of Isabel and the late Stanley Dawson of Belfast, Northern Ireland.